Table saw

Abstract

A table saw including a table having a top surface, an opening in the table through which a saw blade extends, and a throat plate receivable within the opening. The throat plate includes a front end that sits flush with the top surface of the table, a back end that sits flush with the top surface of the table, a top surface that is co-planar with the top surface of the table, and a wear plate pocket that is recessed from the top surface of the throat plate. The wear plate pocket defines a bottom surface that is oriented at an oblique angle relative to the top surface of the throat plate and slopes downward in a direction from the back end toward the front end. The wear plate positioned within the wear plate pocket. The wear plate sitting parallel to the bottom surface of the wear plate pocket.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A table saw comprising:
 a table having a top surface; 
 an opening in the table through which a saw blade extends; 
 a throat plate receivable within the opening, the throat plate including
 a front end that sits flush with the top surface of the table, 
 a back end that sits flush with the top surface of the table, the back end is opposite the front end, 
 a top surface that is co-planar with the top surface of the table, and 
 a wear plate pocket that is recessed from the top surface of the throat plate, 
 wherein the wear plate pocket defines a bottom surface that is oriented at an oblique angle relative to the top surface of the throat plate and slopes downward in a direction from the back end toward the front end; and 
 
 a wear plate positioned within the wear plate pocket, the wear plate sitting parallel to the bottom surface of the wear plate pocket. 
 
     
     
       2. The table saw of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a riving knife positioned behind the saw blade and extending upward from underneath the table; and 
 an anti-kickback pawl supported by the riving knife and positioned above both the throat plate and the wear plate. 
 
     
     
       3. The table saw of  claim 1 , wherein the wear plate is made from a metal. 
     
     
       4. The table saw of  claim 2 , wherein the wear plate is coupled to the throat plate in facing relationship with the anti-kickback pawl, and wherein the anti-kickback pawl is biased into contact with the wear plate. 
     
     
       5. The table saw of  claim 1 , wherein the wear plate is disposed proximate the back end of the throat plate. 
     
     
       6. The table saw of  claim 1 , wherein the throat plate further includes a knob that is disposed proximate the front end to which a locking arm is coupled for co-rotation therewith, and wherein the knob is rotatable by a user to move the locking arm between a locking position in which the throat plate is secured to the table, and a release position in which the throat plate is removable from the table. 
     
     
       7. The table saw of  claim 6 , wherein the knob is accessible from the top surface of the throat plate and the locking arm is positioned beneath the throat plate. 
     
     
       8. The table saw of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of a top surface of the wear plate is sub-flush with the top surface of the throat plate, and wherein no portion of the wear plate extends above the top surface of the throat plate. 
     
     
       9. The table saw of  claim 8 , further comprising a lip that is formed between the top surface of the wear plate and the top surface of the throat plate due to the wear plate being sub-flush from the top surface of the throat plate. 
     
     
       10. The table saw of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom surface of the wear plate pocket is oriented at an oblique angle relative to the top surface of the throat plate between 0.2 degrees and 1.0 degree. 
     
     
       11. The table saw of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom surface of the wear plate pocket is oriented at an oblique angle relative to the top surface of the throat plate of 0.3 degrees. 
     
     
       12. The table saw of  claim 1 , wherein the wear plate pocket has a first depth adjacent the back end of the throat plate and a second depth spaced away from the back end toward the front end of the throat plate, wherein the first depth and the second depth are measured from the top surface of the throat plate to the bottom surface of the wear plate pocket, wherein the second depth is greater than the first depth. 
     
     
       13. The table saw of  claim 12 , wherein the difference between the first depth and the second depth is 0.01 inch to 0.02 inch. 
     
     
       14. The table saw of  claim 12 , wherein the difference between the first depth and the second depth is 0.012 inch. 
     
     
       15. The table saw of  claim 12 , wherein the wear plate has a constant thickness that is equal to the first depth, such that one end of the wear plate is flush with the top surface of the throat plate adjacent the back end, and wherein an opposite end of the wear plate is sub-flush with the top surface of the throat plate. 
     
     
       16. A throat plate for a table saw, the table saw including a table having an opening through which a saw blade extends, the throat plate comprising:
 a front end; 
 an opposite back end; 
 a top surface that is co-planar with a top surface of the table, such that the top surface of the throat plate is configured to support and contact a workpiece between the front end and the back end; and 
 a wear plate pocket that is recessed from the top surface of the throat plate, the wear plate pocket defines a bottom surface oriented at an oblique angle relative to the top surface of the throat plate and slopes downward in a direction from the back end toward the front end; and 
 a wear plate positioned within the wear plate pocket, the wear plate sitting parallel to the bottom surface of the wear plate pocket with at least a portion sitting sub-flush from the top surface of the throat plate. 
 
     
     
       17. The throat plate of  claim 16 , wherein the wear plate pocket has a first depth adjacent the back end of the throat plate and a second depth spaced away from the back end toward the front end of the throat plate, wherein the first depth and the second depth are measured from the top surface of the throat plate to the bottom surface of the wear plate pocket, wherein the second depth is greater than the first depth. 
     
     
       18. The throat plate of  claim 17 , wherein the wear plate has constant thickness that is equal to the first depth such that the wear plate sits flush with the top surface adjacent the back end, and wherein the wear plate sits sub-flush with the top surface at the opposite end of the wear plate pocket. 
     
     
       19. The throat plate of  claim 17 , wherein the difference between the first depth and the second depth is 0.01 inch to 0.02 inch. 
     
     
       20. The throat plate of  claim 16 , further comprising a lip that is formed between a top surface of the wear plate and the top surface of the throat plate due to the wear plate being sub-flush from the top surface of the throat plate.